Easy red, white and blue July 4th appetizers

Ideas and recipes for easy, healthy July 4th appetizers and snacks that are red, white and blue – great for kids and adults!

(Psst… Be sure to check out the VIDEO at the bottom of this post!)

Today I’ve got some easy, festive and fun July 4th appetizers for you! It’s all about the red, white and blue over here for the upcoming holiday. 🇺🇸

Funny side story: When M was 18 months, we were splashing in the bath and that was a favorite time for me to bring up random topics to discuss: colors, shapes, but also geography, history, even politics. This was in 2012, so there was a presidential election going on.

I told her – and repeated for a few weeks – that our current president was “Obama.” It’s very similar to “mama” so I knew she’d be able to get it. And it was always, “Who’s the president?” M: “Obama!”

Well, a couple weeks later at school, it’s February and President’s Week and they are talking about Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. Her teachers say “president” and M goes, “Obama.”

They were floored! Couldn’t wait to tell me about it at pick-up that day and we all laughed. She’s a smart cookie. 😉

Anyway, we love to be patriotic and the kiddos love them some American flags. So I wanted to come up with some healthy, delicious red, white and blue foods. No food coloring or artificial flavors here. (Just like my red, white and blue yogurt parfaits from last week.)

3 easy red, white and blue July 4th appetizers

Ideas for 3 easy, healthy July 4th appetizers that are red, white and blue!

Ingredients

For the mini fruit and cream cheese sandwiches

4 slices whole wheat bread, crusts removed (see notes)

1/4 cup cream cheese

1/2 cup sliced strawberries

About 1/4 cup fresh blueberries

For the popcorn

4 cups popcorn (see notes)

3 tablespoons melted unsalted butter

1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 cup dried cranberries

1/4 cup dried blueberries

For the fruit and cheese skewers

12 strawberries, halved (see notes)

24 fresh blueberries

12 mini mozzarella balls, halved (packed in water, usually found near the deli section in the grocery store)

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

Instructions

For the sandwiches:

Spread half of the bread slices with cream cheese.

Top with sliced strawberries then top with the other bread halves. Cut sandwiches into triangles.

Top with a blueberry and a toothpick and serve!

For the popcorn:

Make popcorn: Add 1/4 cup corn kernels to a large microwave-safe glass or Pyrex bowl. Cover with a tight fitting lid. Microwave on high for about 5 minutes, until popping sounds are 3-4 seconds apart. Remove carefully (use oven mitts - the bowl and lid will be hot!) Remove top immediately to release excess steam.

Add butter and salt to popcorn and stir to combine. If you are using a store-bought popcorn bag or prepared popcorn, skip the butter and salt here.

Add dried cranberries and blueberries and stir to combine.

Serve and enjoy!

For the fruit and cheese skewers:

Place strawberry half on a plate. Use a toothpick or skewer to add and secure a mozzarella slice and blueberry on top.

Serve on a platter with a bowl of balsamic vinegar for dipping and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

You can snack on the leftover crusts or use them to make homemade breadcrumbs or croutons. Or toast them and use with peanut butter, hummus or guacamole for snacking.

You can substitute strawberry jam for the fresh strawberries in the sandwiches. Or use blueberry or grape jam and sliced strawberries in the sandwiches. And you could make them with mini-bagels or English muffins, for a more substantial snack or lunch.

For the fruit-cheese skewers, I cut a very thin slice off the bottom of the strawberries so they will sit flat.

Comments

All of these look so cute and like you said, who can resist pretty hand-held food? Not me 🙂 I love them all, but those strawberry boats are just the best! We have a long weekend coming up too on July 1st, so you have definitely inspired me to get my app on 😉 That was super adorable learning your daughter to say Obama. She definitely sounds like one smart cookie 🙂 xo

I totally agree – such a great combo and I make things with those two all the time for breakfast or snack 🙂 And I’m headed to your site right now to see what sort of deliciousness you put together for the 4th!

Oh my gawsh, you do have one lil smart cookie on your hands!! Obviously she takes after mama. 😉 BUT, ummm you say you aren’t creative – I beg to differ!! Love these easy ideas for the 4th! The popcorn has to be my favorite, because I’m a pop-aholic, so any excuse to devour popcorn, I’m game! Cheers, dear – to a fabulous rest of the week and weekend!

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Hi there! I'm Kathryn, a health and nutrition editor, wife, mother of two little kids, and devoted food and home cooking nut. I've got lots of easy recipes and resources to help you get delicious family food on your table! Learn more about me.